Grain-drill



3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

's. B. HART. Grain Drilla No.- 238,683. Patented March 8,1881.

:T a T H r E J B A 2w w 1v 8 NrPETERS, FHOTO-LITMOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON. DC.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets--Sheet 3.

S. B. HART. Gr'ain'Dr ill.

No. 238,683. Patented March 8,1881.

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",PEIERa PNOTD-LITHOGRAFNER. WASHINGTON-b C.

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STACY B. HART, OF PEORIA, lLLINOI GRAIN-DRILL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 238,683, dated March 8,1881. Application filed October 4, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, STACY B. HART, a citizenof the United States, residing at Peoria, in the county of Peoria andState of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements inGrain-Drills, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of graindrills in which the drillboots or teeth are carried by drag-bars capable of vibrationindependently of each other, and in which a series of rotary feed-wheelstake the grain from a common feed-box and deliver it to the teeth. ltsobjects are to provide for the prompt simultaneous lowering and theholding down of the drag-bars by a yielding pressure, while leaving themfree to vibrate independently when the teeth meet obstructions, toautomatically place the feed devices in and out of operationsimultaneously with the lowering and raising of the drill-teeth, and tosimplify the feed regu-' lating and indicating devices.

The invention consists, first, in a certain novelcombi nation andarrangement, in relation to the drag-bars of a grain-drill and theirraising and lowering devices, of a'series of springs which areautomatically caused to either bear upon said bars when lowered ordecrease their pressure upon the same when raised by the action of saidraising and lowering devices, as hereinafter more particularlydescribed; second, in the combination, in a grain-drill, with thedrill-teeth and devices for raising and lowering the same, and thetraveling-wheel axle having the feed-wheels mounted thereon, ofautomatic mechanism connected with said raising and lowering devices andtraveling- Wheel axle for clutching or engaging said axle with one ofthe traveling wheels simultaneously with the lowering of thedrill-teeth, and unclutching or disengaging the said axle and wheel asthe drill-teeth are raised, whereby the feed devices and drill-teeth areplaced in and out of operation simultaneously; third, in thecombination, with the two-part adjustable feed-wheels carried by theaxle of a grain-drill and a bar sliding upon the axle longitudinally andconnected to the adjustable parts of said feed-wheels, of a scale fixedupon the axle and an index or pointer fixed upon said sliding bar, andsuitable means for shifting said bar,

a top view of a grain-drill provided with my improvements. Fig. 2 is avertical longitudinal section on line 00 m of Fig. 1 Fig. 3 is adetached view of the devices for placing the feed-wheels in and out ofoperation. Fig. 4 is a view, in detail, partlyin section, illustratingthe feed regulating and indicating devices. Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are detailperspectiveviews of said devices. Figs. 8 and 9 are views, in detail, ofthe devices for placing the feedwheels in and out of operation. Figs. 10and 11 are detail views of the devices for lowering and raising thedrag-bars.

The letter A indicates the main frame of the implement, the side beamsof which are bolted to the under sides-0f two blocks, a, in which areformed the bearings of the axle B, the projecting ends of which form thespindles of the traveling wheels 0 O, the latter of which is arrangedfor connection to and disconnection from the axle by means of a suitableclutch, as will be hereinafter more particularly described.

The letter D designates the drag-bars, provided at their rear ends withthe usual drillteeth E, and having their forward ends pivoted to arms 0,projecting from a rock-shaft, F, extending across the front of theframe, as shown in Fig. 1. The arms 1) project alternately from oppositesides of the shaft, so that when said shaft is turned every alternatedrag-bar will be moved longitudinally forward and the others rearward,so that the drill-teeth may be arranged either in a single row or in tworanks, as shown and described in my Letters Patent No. 221,408. Therock-shaft is operated by a hand-lever, G, mounted on the tongue, andhaving its short arm connected by a link, 0, with one of the arms I).the lever being provided with a suitable latch, which engages with arack-plate secured to the tongue.

To the rear ofthe rock-shaftF there is mounted in the frame a similarrock-shaft, H, having a series of longitudinally-slotted arms, g,projecting from one side,and each having at one end a lug, y, extendingsomewhat beyond the opposite side of the shaft. The drag-bars D passthrough the slots in these arms 9, which thus serve, in connection withthe shaft H and a hand-lever, I, to raise and lower said bars, as shownin my patent before referred to.

The hand-lever I is pivoted to a standard,

K, rising from the tongue, and having at its top a rack, k, with whichthe latch engages to hold the lever in position.

From the upper edge of each of the dragbars rises a bifurcated post, D,between the two prongs of which is journaled a frictionroller, (1, uponthe periphery of which bears a spring, 1 one end of which is secured tothe lug g of the slotted arm 9 by being clamped between the side of saidlug and a washer, g, which is grooved, as shown in Fig. 10, to receivethe end of said spring. A suitable bolt and nut confine the washer tothe lug. When the arms 9 are thrown down to lower the dragbars thesprings y bear upon the rollers d, forcing the drag-bars all downsimultaneously, and holding them well to the ground, while stillallowing them to rise when the teeth strike any unusual obstruction. Bya proper adjustment of the washer before the bolt is tightened thespring may be caused to bear with greater or less force upon thefriction-roller, as desired.

Upon the end of the shaft H which projects outside the frame, as shownat H, Figs. 1 and 3, is fixed a cam, W, consisting of a metal segmenthaving its outer edge bent obliquely and fitting loosely between theprongs at" w of a forked lever, X, which is fulcrumed on abracketextending outward from the side beam of the frame. This lever X extendsrearwardly, and has its rear end also bifurcated, the prongs embracing aclutch,U, and entering a groove therein. This clutchis mounted on anenlargement, B, of the axle,being prevented from turning on saidenlargement by the ordinary feather and groove, but having alateralmovement thereon.

The hub C has formed in its inner side an annular chamber or groove, 0,from the flat inner wall of which project teeth 0, with which the teethof the clutch U are adapted to engage, and thus lock the wheel to theaxle, so that the latter will be rotated when so locked and carry withit the feed-wheels which are fixed upon it.

When the hand-lever I is moved outward the rock-shaft H is turned tothrow the slotted arms g down to lower the drag-bars, and at the sametime the cam W which is fixed to said shaft, is turned to cause thelever X to shift the clutch U outward and engage its teeth with theteeth 0 of the wheel 0.

The axle is thus locked to the wheel, and, as before explained, thefeed-wheels are placed in operation simultaneously with the lowering ofthe teeth to the ground. The reverse or inward movement of the lever Icauses the shaft H to rock in the opposite direction, and the drag-barsand teeth are raised, the clutch releases the wheel, and the axle andfeed-wheels cease to revolve, this being the condition of the parts whenthe implement is on the road to and from the turning in the field, ormoving from place to place when not in use.

The hopper or grain box M extends, as usual, transversely across theframe, and is secured thereto directly over the axle, which, in thismachine, and also in that described in my patent before referred to,carries the feed-wheels.

The feeding devices are of that class in which the grain is deliveredthrough a cup or case in a continuous stream by means of a feed-wheelhaving a circumferential groove or channel to carry the grain, the wheelbeing made in two parts, so that the width of the groove or channel maybe varied to increase or diminish the rate of delivery of the grain tothe drill-teeth. In Fig. 4 the feed-wheels are shown in diametricsection as attached to the axle, and Figs. 5 and 6 are perspective viewsof the two parts of a wheel separated. The partP of the wheel is fixedto the axle, and comprises the toothed cylinder q and a head orenlargement, 12, thereon, to form one side of the grain-channel. Thecylinder is provided with teeth m, and the head with teeth at, as shownin Fig. 5. The other and adjustable part of the wheel consists of asleeve, 4", which fits loosely upon the cylinder q, and is provided withteeth a. A portion of this sleeve 1' is constructed as shown at r, tofit more closely to the axle, and is secured to a sliding bar, 8, whichhas its bearing upon one side of the axle, substantially as shown at s.This bar 8 extends nearly the whole length of the axle, being allowedsufficient play on its bearing to properly shift the sleeves 1' and passbetween the axle and fixed portion 1? of the feed-wheels. Each of theseries of sleeves r are fixed to bar 8, as shown in Fig. 4, so that theywill all be shifted simultaneously by the longitudinal movement of saidbar, and as said sleeves are moved toward or from the head 19 it will beseen that the grain-channels of the feed-wheels will be widened ornarrowed, and the quantity of grain delivered thus regulated. Thefeed-wheels are arranged so that their grooves will come directly underthe spouts or tubes M, leading down from the feed-box, and terminatingin casings M which surround the wheels and have openings m through whichthe grain drops into the grain-cups E, suspended from the bottoms of thecasings and provided with tubes 0, preferably rubber, which lead downinto the drill-teeth. These cups are suspended by hooks 0 fixed to thecasings M, and curve forward and upward. The cups are provided withslots or holes, which pass over these hooks, said slots or holes beingformed at such distance from the edges of the cups that the latter mustbe turned horizontally in order to be placed upon or taken 0d the hooks.The cups and tubes assume a vertical position by gravity when suspended,and thus liability to accidental detachment is obviated.

Upon the axle B, between two of the feedwheels, is loosely mounted asleeve, T, which is secured to the bar 8, and is provided with aperipheral rib, t, which extends into a slot in a hand-lever, T, whichis pivoted at one end to the front portion of the bottom of the feedbox,while its other end extends rearward of the box to form a handle. Uponanother portion of the axle, between two of the feed-wheels, is fixed aplate, V, upon which are inscribed suitable lines or graduation-marks,and from the sliding bar 8 a pointer, '0, projects partially across theplate. The movement of the bar 8 is so arranged that the position of thepointer 12 with relation to the marks on plate V will indicate theposition of the adjustable sleeves r with relation to the heads 1) ofthe feed-wheels, and thus, by observation of the pointer and plate andmoving the lever T, the sleeves may be adjusted to widen or narrow thegrain-channels of thefeed-wheels to deliver any desired quantity ofgrain, the quantity for each mark of the plate having been previouslydetermined.

To the rear sides of each of the drill-teeth E are attached chains Y,which extend upward and are connected to rods Y, which are arranged toplay vertically through eyes 2, projecting from the rear wall of thefeed-box. The upper ends of these rods terminate in rings y, or anyother suitable-shaped handles, which prevent the rods from slipping outof the eyes, and serve as convenient means by which the driver, on hisseat L in rear of the feed-box, may draw up the rods and chains, andthus raise any one or more of the drill-teeth from the ground to clearit of any kind of rubbish, or to avoid obstructions.

I am aware that in seed-drills in which the feed-wheels are carried by ashaft separate from the traveling-wheel shaft automatic devices havebeen operated by the drill-teeth raising and lowering devices to connectthe feed-wheel shaft with the traveling-wheel shaft, and I do not claimsuch an arrangement of devices.

What I claim is- 1. The combination, with the rock-shaft H, slotted armsg, and the lever for operating said shaft, of the springs a, secured tothe lugs g, and arranged to bear upon the tops of the bars when the arms9 are lowered, substantially as described.

2. In agrain-drill,the combination, with the drill-teeth and devices forraising and loweringthesame, and the traveling-wheel axle having thefeed-wheels mounted thereon, of automatic mechanisms connected with saidraising and lowering devices and traveling-wheel axle for clutching orengaging said axle with one of the traveling wheels simultaneously withthe lowering of the drill-teeth, and unclutching or disengaging saidaxle and wheel as the drill-teeth are raised, substantially as and forthe purpose set forth.

3. The combination, with the rock-shaft H, drill-teeth, and intermediateconnections, of the cam W, lever X, traveling wheel 0, axle B,carryingthe feed-wheels, and a suitable clutch, operated by the saidlever X, for connecting the traveling wheel to and disconnecting it fromsaid axle, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with the two-part feedwheels mounted upon the axleB,and composed of the fixed portions P and adjustable sleeves 1', and thesliding bar 3, connecting said sleeves, of a suitable scale fixed tosaid axle and a pointer or index arranged upon said bar, substantiallyas and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

STACY B. HART.

Witnesses ALBERT H. NonRIs, JAMES A. RUTHERFORD.

